Tennessee Voices: Authorizer would undo good reform

5:20 PM,
Mar. 2, 2013

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner represents Old Hickory.

Written by

state Rep. Mike Turner

In recent weeks, the topic of "school choice" and "education reform" has been dominating the news here in Nashville and throughout Tennessee. Unfortunately, this important issue often gets reduced down to arguments of "for" or "against" education reform, when in fact the question should be "what is the best way to reform our education system?"

In the past decade, Democrats have worked with Republicans under the leadership of Gov. Phil Bredesen to pass common-sense, comprehensive reforms to our public education system. As a result, between 2002 and 2010, graduation rates in Tennessee ...